RESIDENTS in Barnt Green have welcomed plans aimed at slowing down speeding drivers and making their village a safer place.

Worcestershire Highways Partnership in Bromsgrove presented a catalogue of improvements, including reducing the speed limit through the village to 20mph and improved street lighting, to residents before Christmas.

More than 300 villagers received leaflets detailing proposals to introduce traffic calming measures and parking improvements in Hewell Road, Barnt Green.

One-hundred-and-fifty concerned residents have now written back to the partnership and the majority have given the plans their approval, while some have expressed concerns over new parking restrictions.

The measures include new speed signs, coloured road markings, raised speed platforms at the junctions of Sandhills Road and Hewell Road and Station Approach and Hewell Road, as well as speed cushions along Hewell Road.

Other proposals include alterations to parking restrictions on Hewell Road to encourage commuters to use Barnt Green train station's car park rather than the roadside.

Partnership manager Jon Fraser told the Advertiser/Messenger: "Ninety-four per cent of those who responded welcomed the traffic calming measures.

"And 69 per cent were in favour of the parking restrictions but we are looking at making minor amendments to the restrictions in light of residents' comments."

The partnership is now preparing a report for local district councillors detailing the res-ponses.

Mr Fraser added: "I am very pleased that people are in favour of what we are proposing."